Adam Ward wins the final stage, the race overall and the points, climbers' and junior classification. He was king of the Newry Three Day (Photo with many thanks to Brendan Monaghan)

Adam Ward wins stage 3, all jerseys, Newry Three Day

Having claimed yesterday’s stage and taken all the jerseys, Adam Ward has won again the Newry Three Day.

The Powerhouse Sport junior rider once again jumped across to a dangerous breakaway on Sunday’s stage 3.

And from that group he would prove best; taking his second stage win in two days.

The result meant he sealed overall victory and the points classification.

As race winner he also won the junior riders’ classification and claimed the climbers’ competition.

At the finish into Bessbrook today, after 114.2km, Ward wion a spint from a group of four.

He edged out PJ Doogan of Caldwell Cycles Omagh; both riders equal on time.

And then just four seconds back off-road specialist Thomas Creighton (Trek at Kinning Cycles) was next.

Just two seconds after him the final member of the winning attack, Adam Cunningham of VC Mourne, took 4^th place.

There then elapsed another 18 seconds before Stewart Thompson of Clann Eireann led home the bunch for 5^th place.

He took the sprint from Dale Walker of Phoenix CC and Sean Nolan of Navan Road Club.

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Young Nolan had put in a fantastic ride out the road and at one point he led solo by over a minute; the Meath man emerging as a strong and aggressive competitor.

Nolan had initially bridged across to Oisin Doherty (AAA) not long after Ward had led over the second climb of the day.

When Nolan and Doherty combined they initially enjoyed a very slender lead over the bunch.

However, Nolan would soon press on alone. And though Powerhouse Sport and Newry Wheelers had been dominant in attacking and closing down moves, Nolan surged clear.

He ploughed away on his own and pulled out an advantage north of one minute.

Doherty combined behind with Luke Joyce, Doogan Kevin Lynch (Newry Wheelers) in a chase group behind Nolan.

However, while they were caught by the bunch, Nolan retained his lead, though it had dipped just under one minute.

Back in the main field, the successful chase group would attack. In it were Cunningham, Creighton and the irrepressible Doogan.

They would catch Nolan, though the Navan man lost his place at the front. The yellow jersey of Ward then shot out of the bunch and caught the three leaders.

And it was those four who would just about survive to fight for glory on the day.

The race got underway on Friday, though stage 1 was neutralised. It was stopped after an incident between a PSNI motorcycle officer and a car.

The PSNI member was badly injured but is expected to reover. And thankfully Newry Wheelers, with the PSNI's help, continued the race and made it a great success.